Dozens gathered in Federal Plaza in the Loop to urge the U.S. Senate to reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The protest, organized early Friday morning, was intended as a rebuke of Kavanaugh’s nomination and the contentious, charged hearing that took place in Washington the day before.

Just after the demonstration, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination to the full Senate, with the caveat from U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake that he wants an investigation by the FBI into allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh.

“I feel like I have a responsibility for my children and for myself — for humans,” said Caitlin Corbett, a mother of two from Logan Square who attended the protest Friday with her 18-month-old daughter.

“You don’t just get sad and move on, you’ve gotta stand up and fight,” she said.

Protesters on Friday were asked to wear black. Many brought signs and banners. The noon event featured representatives from local women’s groups, including area chapters of NARAL and Planned Parenthood, Women Employed and Move On, who implored those attending to vote for politicians who would support their shared goals of empowering women and respecting victims of sexual abuse.

Women made up the overwhelming number of demonstrators, but some at the protest were men, including a few who watched from glossy office building windows nearby.

Photos from the scene showed that among those in attendance was Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, who held a sign saying “I believe Dr. Ford.”

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune

Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker joins protesters representing a variety of organizations at Federal Plaza in the Loop on Sept. 28, 2018, to urge a rejection of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“What happened yesterday was awful,” said Larry Hannum, who works nearby, referring to the Thursday’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by Christine Blasey Ford, who has alleged that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the claim, including in fiery testimony Thursday.

“The GOP will do whatever they can and get away with whatever they can until we remove them from power,” said Hannum, a West Loop resident on his lunch break.